Around 1.8 lakh doctors strike in Maharashtra against Homeopath-CCMP registration
Mumbai: Nearly 1.8 lakh doctors across Maharashtra staged a strike today opposing the state government's move to allow homeopathic practitioners with a Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council.
While emergency and critical services remained unaffected, doctors from government, BMC, and private hospitals participated. The protest follows the government’s fresh circular on September 5, reviving CCMP registration despite earlier withdrawal.
What is the issue?
The CCMP course was started based on the Government Resolution dated 13.03.2014. The course was conducted under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik. After successful completion, eligible homeopathic practitioners received training in allopathic (modern) medicine to serve in public healthcare services. In 2014, the Maharashtra Medical Council issued a notice in which the council was given the authority to ask all doctors who have completed the CCMP course to register with the council.
Back in 2017, the State Medical Education and Drugs Department passed a notification and allowed Homeopaths to practice modern medicine and register with MMC. However, allopathic doctors strongly opposed this move and the matter ultimately resulted in IMA challenging the amendments in the Bombay High Court in 2014. Consequently, the HC bench stayed the notification.
While the matter was awaiting a court judgment, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) had, on June 30, officially decided to allow homeopathic practitioners who completed the CCMP course to register with the council and prescribe allopathic medicines. MMC was directed to register CCM-qualified around 10,000 to 90,000 homeopathic doctors in Maharashtra, in a separate register starting July 15. However, the decision was put on hold and the Government suspended the registration process after IMA warned to initiate a statewide strike.
Following this, the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department formed a seven-member special committee to decide whether homeopathic doctors who have completed the Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP) should be allowed to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council and practice modern (allopathic) medicine.
Registration of CCMP-qualified Homeopaths with MMC:
The Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to start the registration of homeopathy practitioners who have completed a one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).
This resulted in a strong protest among the medical practitioners across the State. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that IMA had termed the Government's decision as "dangerous" and "a threat to public health", and it had also highlighted that the government's order was in contempt of court as the matter was already pending before the High Court.
Again, on 12th September 2025, the association wrote to the Chief Minister and expressed its deep concern and strong objection to the recent circular issued by the Medical Education and Drugs Department, Government of Maharashtra. IMA mentioned in the letter that the direction to Maharashtra Medical Council to give registration to CCMP (Certificate Course in Modern Medicine and Surgery for Practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine) passed homeopathic medical practitioners, "poses a serious threat to the safety and quality of healthcare services."
The association demanded an immediate stay on the decision to register CCMP doctors in the Maharashtra Medical Council and urged the Government not to implement any decisions until the pending High Court case is resolved. As per the association, only fully trained and qualified MBBS doctors should be granted licenses for modern medicine.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.